The upcoming The Flash movie will bring back Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton as Batman. Both actors will reportedly have significant appearances in the movie featuring Ezra Miller as Barry Allen/The Flash.
The Flash, with director Andy Muschietti at the helm, will feature parallel universes adapted from the comic book’s Flashpoint storyline. Miller’s superhero character will come across multiple Batmen in different times and places.
Muschietti confirmed the cameos of Affleck and Keaton in a Vanity Fair report. The next big superhero film from the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) is set for a 2022 release.
“It’s Barry’s movie, it’s Barry’s story, but their characters are more related than we think,” the director said about Affleck’s reprisal. “They both lost their mothers to murder, and that’s one of the emotional vessels of the movie. That’s where the Affleck Batman kicks in.”
Muschietti, however, didn’t expound on Keaton’s role, but he confirmed earlier rumors that Miller’s solo film will delve on multi-universes.
Affleck’s surprising reprisal
Keaton played Batman in two Tim Burton movies: Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992). Affleck starred as the Dark Knight in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Justice League (2017). He also briefly appeared in Suicide Squad (2016).
Affleck’s return is a surprise to DC fans after he opened up to GQ that he lost his passion for playing the character. The actor was set for a solo Batman flick as the star, writer, and director, but he quit this project along with quitting the role.
Warner Bros eventually hired Robert Pattison to take over the role with Matt Reeves, signing on as writer and director for The Batman. Keaton’s return in The Flash, on the other hand, is billed as a “mentor figure” to Miller’s character.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, The Batman and The Flash are not taking place in one universe. However, there could be overlaps due to the interdimensional travel element of Flashpoint.
Expounding alternate realities, Miller’s controversy
The CW’s Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover first explored the Flashpoint storyline on the small screen. Miller had a super-secret cameo on the TV show and met with this universe’s Barry Allen actor, Grant Gustin. The episode aired in January.
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Filming for the big-screen treatment of The Flash hasn’t started yet amid the coronavirus safety precautions as well as Miller’s controversy. Fans want the actor fired after a viral video saw Miller choking a fan.
Miller hasn’t been seen in public since that incident in April. However, the latest from the grapevine is that Warner Bros has no plans to fire the actor from The Flash or the DCEU.
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